Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-08-12
THE NEW UMPIRE.

If you have met Charley Munger
lately you must have noticed how ole
and careworn be is getting to be. HI
used to be one of the brightest fellows
in Trotteryille and popular, too, bu
lately nobody seems to speak to hin
and there is little left of his ole
geniality.
Charley" l said to him the othel
day, "what is the matter with your
"Oh, nothing" answered Charley
dejectedly.
Nonsense" / replied, "there j:
something wrong. What is it? Any
thing l can help you about?
"Well, be said with a sigh, 'it
isn't anything serious. The trouble
if it can be called trouble, dates from
the foundation of the Trotterville Base
Ball club"
"Why, thought you were active
in getting up the cluh?"
ESQ, l was; so | was. It's good
club, too, but you see | don't play
and am the umpire and"
II see how it it."
"Yes, that's what's the matter. ]
don't seem to be able to please any.
body. They're all down on me-"
~ r60k here ~ saaiid, ssaidd II know q fel
low in Detroit that used to be q
league umpire. Let me bring him
over. He is little fellow, but /
don't think they will growl much at
his decisions"
Next day l net Bill Higgins and
as ked him to come over to Trotter-
vile and umpire game, and post
ed him on kind of kickers the Trot-
tervillians were. Higgins is an Eng
lishman, who used to be one of the
cowboys in Buffalo Bill's Wild West
show, but, for some reason, Higgins
did not care to go back to England
with the company, and SO is out of a
job just now. Bill used to do the
fancy shooting and some OF the lasso
exercises. and is tough customer.
When we got to the Tr0tteryille
grounds the game was in progress
and Charley was umpiring.
zone strike!" he cried, as the ball
came over the plate.
whats that you say?" cried the
captain of the ins, as he marched up
threateningly to the umpire.
II said STRIKE
"That wasn't no strike, the ball
was below the knee" This state
ment was loudly corroborated by the
man at the bat.
"Well, | thought it was a strike"
said the umpire.
ut wasn't oil the same,' the ins
were unanimous in saying.
"All right. Call it one ball then. /"
"W hats that! what's that" yelled
the captain of the outs, as he marched
from the field.
ooh, come now, 20 on with the
game" said the bewildered umpire.
"You said a strike" shouted the
out captain, "and by George, you've
got to stick to it,"
mot if he was wrong, as he ad-
mits," said the captain.
Wrong nothing. It's q strike
He said 80. Hang such umpiring"
"See here" said the umpire, anx-
ious for peace, "let's call that off and
begin again"
After some grumbling this was
agreed to. and the game went on.
The man at the bat hit the ball and
ran for the first base. The ball was
very cleverly stopped by the second
baseman and thrown to first. ball and
batsman getting there about the same
time. The umpire had run down to
first and stood there with iDdecision
"parn if l know which it is," he said
helplessly. There was a howl at this
remark "He's outp" yelled the outs
"Safe! sale!" shouted the ins, all
gathering around the first base
There was wild wrangle between
the two captains, and when they
turned to appeal to the umpire they
found that that individual had taken
the opportunity to get over the fence
and 60 home.
"This gentleman" / said to the
two captains, "was umpire in the
league last summer. Perhaps be
would see the game through for you"
They united in inviting him to take
the vacant post and he consented
The new umpire threw off his coat
and unwound from his body long,
thin rope which be flung on the
ground. Then he tightened his belt
and said
'ross that ball here"
The pitcher tossed the ball to him.
"That balls no good" said the new
umpire.
whats the matter with itg'
growled one of the captains.
"Well, its no good. That's whats
the matter with it,"
"Well, we amt league club, and
we can't afford no dollar an a hall
balls on this ground" said the cap
tain, some what cowed by the resolute
demeanor of the little umpire.
The little umpire flung the ball into
the air, then putting his hand to bis
hip pulled out q big revolver and fred
as it came down. The baseball flew
into dozen pieces. There was cry
of amazemcnt and dismay They
had no other ball. The umpire wen,
to where his coat was lying on the
ground, brought from the pocket 6
familiar red labeled box, tore it opeu
took out a new ball and tossed 1t Il
the pitcher.
There" he said, III make you {
present of that one, Now, then play
ball"
IL